It’s time for Detroit Red Wings fans to get a close-up look at the organization’s No. 1 forward prospect.
On Thursday evening, the Wings announced that they have recalled center Marco Kasper from Rogle BK of the Swedish League following the club’s elimination from the playoffs.
Kasper, 18, was Detroit’s first-round selection, eighth overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was the highest-drafted Austrian player since Thomas Vanek in 2003. In his three seasons playing against men in the SHL, Kasper made quite an impression. His 23 points in 52 regular-season games this season were the second-most of any player 20 or younger in the SHL.
Kasper joined the Wings for their flight to Winnipeg before they take on the Jets Friday night. He is unquestionably the No. 1 forward prospect in their farm system. At the start of this season, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis released a list of his top 75 NHL-affiliated prospects and ranked Kasper 47th. That list included plenty of skaters already debuting in the NHL this season, however, and didn’t yet factor in Kasper’s impressive 2022-23 campaign. While Kasper doesn’t project to have an elite offensive ceiling, his intelligent two-way game could make him a highly effective No. 2 center with a potential Selke Trophy-worthy skill set someday.
While the Wings are bursting with promising young blueliners, from reigning Calder Trophy winner Moritz Seider to elite-grade prospect Simon Edvinsson to recently signed William Wallinder, they badly need an influx of top-end forward talent to support Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin in the long term. Kasper is a key part of that plan, as is Carter Mazur. The Wings also have two first-round picks for this June’s loaded draft.
The Red Wings have eight games remaining on their 2022-23 schedule. Their .507 points percentage is easily their best since 2015-16, the last time they made the playoffs, but they sit nine points out of a Wildcard spot, poised to miss the postseason for a seventh consecutive year.
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